On my Way to Australia, Firearms Amnesty

ammoland ^ | 26 June, 2017 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

Arizona -(Ammoland.com)- In a few days, I will be traveling to Australia. My trip will occur during the “Firearms Amnesty” there. I intend to write about the Amnesty, as well as the Australian gun culture.

Blog posts may be a little spotty.  It can be difficult to get decent Internet connectivity when you are flying over the Pacific. Internet availability in Australia depends on where you are. The more people around, the better Internet connections.  There are lots of places in Australia without many people.

This Australian “Amnesty” differs from American “buybacks”. American “buybacks” are more properly termed gun turn in events. The American events, in general pay to have the guns turned in.

In this Australian amnesty, there is no general monetary incentive to turn in guns to the government. The incentives are the draconian punishments the government has put in place for failing to register an otherwise legal product.

From the Amnesty website:

If you are found in possession of an unregistered firearm, you could face significant penalties. Depending on your state or territory, and the seriousness of the offence, penalties may include a fine of up to $280,000, or jail time of up to 14 years, or both. These penalties may apply even if it is your first firearm-related offence.

If you are found in possession of unregistered firearms, you may also receive a criminal conviction. Criminal convictions can have serious consequences for you and your family, and may impact your ability to keep any registered firearms you have.

In the U.S.A. there are similar penalties for possession of unregistered short barreled rifles or shotguns, silencers, or machine guns. In the U.S. the penalties for an individual are $10,000 and 10 years in jail. 

[Big Red Badger]

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